May – 2009 – Jo-Jo Cranfield

May 23rd & 24th I Won a Bronze medal for 100m Breaststroke at Ealings (able bodied) Long Course Spring Meet, I also came 8th for 100m Butterly, 7th for 100m Backstroke, 4th for 200m Individual Medley, 11th for 100m Freestyle.

May 21st Boy I am so excited. Remember I learnt to ride a bike last summer. Well I have just been and bought my very own Road Racing Bike, Trek 1.5 WSD. I have just got to source the parts to adapt it, I need both brakes and all the gears to work on one side. It is a little difficult to use brakes & gears with one hand. But as you know I already ride 10 to 15 miles a week on a childs bike that I borrowed from Mick Tolhurst my support rider, friend & national cycle standards officer.

My Cycling Coach Mick Tollhurst and me Jo-Jo Cranfield - 2009

May 15th 16th & 17th I was meant to sit my GCSE Food Tech today but because I qualified for the British International Long Course Swimming Championships which incorporated the European Trials I went there instead. (Dont panic examination board gave me a ‘B‘ based on my mock exams and course work) I qualified for 7 events. Sadly I did not make the required qualifying times for the Europeans in Reykjavik, Iceland, but I did make 5 finals not bad going when you think I was up against swimmers of all ages and it was a multi disability event, which are always really tough. (My time will come I will just have to be patient).

May 11th I was a guest speaker at Garrons Golf Club (very posh) for Southend Round Table #106. I stayed for there buffet it was very nice. There was no fish “what a shame he! he!”

May 8th I taught at Fairways Primary School in Leigh-on-Sea today. It was fun and I seemed to get on well with the children. Hope I managed to teach then something. My examiners must have been a little impressed because I Passed my JFO Award / Level One Football Coach “whoopee”!

May 5th Saw British Swimming Nutrionist Michael Naylor today. He told me to eat more red meat Yuk! and lots of fish Yuk Yuk. Not looking forward to new diet. But if it helps me become the best I will have to suffer in silence.

May 2009 Southend Round Table #106 have contacted me and said if anyone would like to walk on my behalf at this years Moonlight Colourthon and collect and raise money for my Millfiled School Fund they can. You can fill out a registration form at www.moonlightcolourthon.co.uk with the following details:-

Your Nominated Charity: Jo-Jo Cranfield
Full Name of Charity: c/o Southend Round Table 106
Registered Charity No: 1052897
Charity Address: P.O Box 5819, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 9EP.
Tel: 07719 624905
E-mail: crans@tajj.freeserve.co.uk